Disneyland...OMG!!!!!!!!!!

[BrianL]

I blame the weather, personally. But also, I think people push themselves too hard at WDW, especially with kids. I think everyone was just hot and tired most of the time.

Yeah, at DLR it's easier to take it slower and even just enjoy being there, even if you're not a local. At least the weather isn't trying to kill you!

 

[DLgal]

Yeah, at DLS it's easier to take it slower and even just enjoy being there, even if you're not a local. At least the weather isn't trying to kill you!

So true! It's also smaller so you aren't walking 30,000 steps a day in one park. And enough of the locals know when to call it quits and take their kids back home to sleep that you don't have the cacophony of crying kids every afternoon and evening.

When my boys were nap age, we would routinely head out of the parks an hour before nap time and I'd often carry a sleeping kid into his bed from the car.

My kids would NOT nap in strollers, so we were morning warriors in those days.

 

[Dug720]

There are a LOT more angry parents at WDW, that is for sure. I heard so many parents straight up yelling and berating their kids at WDW for being "sassy, crabby, grouchy, entitled, whiny, spoiled, and needing an attitude adjustment. From where I was standing, a lot of this seemed like projection.

My (least) favorite was the mother shaking a plan in her child's face while yelling at them because they needed the bathroom at a not-appointed bathroom time.

 

[Rich M]

Tomorrow night - Dinner. I figured after my 6 hour flight and landing in the morning, I would want a nice sit down dinner at Storyteller's. On Monday, I am going for breakfast at 9 after early entry at Disneyland.

Got it. I miss the old dinner when you could choose between the buffet and the menu. I find the buffet to be very lacking in selection overall. I do like brunch very much. Be sure to ask about the served plate selection. Not sure the advertise it still or not but last time we were there they still let us order some stuff. Its mostly the kids meal stuff like Sliders, Fries, Chicken Strips, and Grilled Cheese but they are honestly really good. The best part is the beignets if they still have them. Last time they were passion fruit. So good and nice an warm. You have to order them from your server.

 

[DLgal]

My (least) favorite was the mother shaking a plan in her child's face while yelling at them because they needed the bathroom at a not-appointed bathroom time.

It was always the moms with full make up, hair done perfectly. ear headbands, and cute outfits that were yelling the loudest on this WDW trip. I blame social media. These parents are trying so hard to emulate these perfect days they see on IG and TikTok and it's just so sad that they are not able to just BE with their kids and enjoy their time together.

 

[DLgal]

Got it. I miss the old dinner when you could choose between the buffet and the menu. I find the buffet to be very lacking in selection overall. I do like brunch very much. Be sure to ask about the served plate selection. Not sure the advertise it still or not but last time we were there they still let us order some stuff. Its mostly the kids meal stuff like Sliders, Fries, Chicken Strips, and Grilled Cheese but they are honestly really good. The best part is the beignets if they still have them. Last time they were passion fruit. So good and nice an warm. You have to order them from your server.

I was never impressed with the plated dinner options at Storytellers at dinner or lunch. I far prefer the buffet, but mostly because I like salads and veggies and variety. I think the buffet has a nice selection of high quality dishes. I don't need a spread like Goofys, which is just quantity over quality. And that bread pudding at dessert is wonderful!

 

[Dug720]

It was always the moms with full make up, hair done perfectly. ear headbands, and cute outfits that were yelling the loudest on this WDW trip. I blame social media. These parents are trying so hard to emulate these perfect days they see on IG and TikTok and it's just so sad that they are not able to just BE with their kids and enjoy their time together.

Agree 100%!!!

 

[Rich M]

I was never impressed with the plated dinner options at Storytellers at dinner or lunch. I far prefer the buffet, but mostly because I like salads and veggies and variety. I think the buffet has a nice selection of high quality dishes. I don't need a spread like Goofys, which is just quantity over quality. And that bread pudding at dessert is wonderful!

I agree the bread pudding is wonderful

 

[Tinkaboo]

Hubby and I are going to WDW in November…gotta tell you, not excited about it. He hates DL (I have Magic Key). He likes the World because “there is so much more to do.” Yeah, well, thats true. We haven’t been in about 15 years, went lots back in 90s and early 2000s when our boy was young, almost every year in fact. But I just can’t get up for this trip…what????? NO AVENGERS???? Are you kidding me? They should build a whole Avengers park with all the room they have!

I’m with @DLgal ,,,yeah, we DO own the place. I just love knowing where I am going, where the crowds are, what to avoid. DL is just like HOME.

I’m sure we will have a good time, see new things, looking forward to riding Tron, Everest. But I’ll be ever so happy when December rolls around and I’m back where I belong !! (And hoping that they keep running RTM through the end of the year!)

Oh, yes, let’s not forget about the cost…I can just about do my 4-5 trips to DL for what this little jaunt to Florida is costing.

 

[Dug720]

NO AVENGERS???? Are you kidding me? They should build a whole Avengers park with all the room they have!

They can't because of some kind of weird licensing thing. Nothing Marvel that Universal has touched east of the Mississippi. They could do Guardians of the Galaxy because Universal never touched them.

But they have Pandora, which is awesome in its own right.

 

[DLgal]

Hubby and I are going to WDW in November…gotta tell you, not excited about it. He hates DL (I have Magic Key). He likes the World because “there is so much more to do.” Yeah, well, thats true.

You know, in the parks specifically, there isn't THAT much more to do in WDW. Almost all of DHS is cloned at Disneyland. At DHS, we literally rode ToT, RnRC, Slinky Dog Dash and saw Lightning McQueen show. That was it and we left because we can do the rest at DL.

AK, we did Everest, Dinosaur, FOP, and Navi River. Kali was down the whole time we were there. We've been there, done that with everything else at AK and it just doesn't interest us enough to repeat.

Epcot and MK have the most stuff to do for DL regulars, quite honestly. Although MK is low on options if you remove the duplicates.

Disney Springs was a nightmare and I have no desire to ever go back there again after last week.

We didn't make it to the waterpark either, but our local water park is pretty awesome so it wasn't a huge loss.

 

[OKW Lover]

1) Weather- Even though it was hot and a touch muggy it was nothing like the heat we have in Florida every summer at WDW. At WDW we are shot by 7 PM from the humidity while at DL we were closing the parks.

Had a chuckle about this. We live in central FL (almost 10 years now) and were just out in DL/DCA this past weekend. While we were there people kept commenting about how humid it was. We just laughed.

 

[DLgal]

Had a chuckle about this. We live in central FL (almost 10 years now) and were just out in DL/DCA this past weekend. While we were there people kept commenting about how humid it was. We just laughed.

To be fair, when we are used to 15% humidity, 50% is uncomfortable. In the mornings, the humidity has been hovering in the mid 80% the last several days. It's no different than FL, which I just returned from last Thursday.

And right now there are tropical storms down off the coast of Baja California that are driving up moisture to our region that makes it feel not unlike WDW in the summer. We are expecting rain and storms Thurs from tropical storm remnants.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Yeah, I think that's what it is. It's also so chaotic because of the space constraints, so you know, I get the frustration.

Also, some of the DLR guests, while they are friendlier, they also sometimes act like they own the place. I've seen things that would just never fly at WDW, like the little makeshift camp in the Main Street Cinema - kids just laying on the floor, clothes draped over the railings - my friend and I called them "The Vagabond Children of Main Street, USA." It's definitely a little different, but it's part of the vibe.

Or how about the pin traders that set up makeshift shops on the benches in Frontierland

 

[DLgal]

Or how about the pin traders that set up makeshift shops on the benches in Frontierland

Okay, these people are the literal worst. I don't understand why Disney lets them do this.

 

[MartyParty]

We came back Friday from our first trip ever to Disneyland. We are from Rhode Island clear across the country and are WDW veterans, my oldest daughter actually works for WDW, but it's always been my dream to see the park that Walt built. Well we were not disappointed, in fact myself, wife 16 & 14 y/o all loved DL more than WDW. So much so that we are leaning toward a return to DL next year. We thought it was much more magical than WDW. We stayed at the Grand California Hotel which my WDW daughter was able to get us a Cast Member Family & Friends discount which saved us 40% off rack rate which was very nice.

I'll list our pro's & cons in no particular order.

Pros:

1) Weather- Even though it was hot and a touch muggy it was nothing like the heat we have in Florida every summer at WDW. At WDW we are shot by 7 PM from the humidity while at DL we were closing the parks.

2) People- We found the guests much more friendlier at DL. If I bumped into someone and said I'm sorry everyone had a smile and said no problem. Nobody seemed ready to tell you off and we found everyone more polite.

3) Magic- From the cast members to the characters, from the history to the rides we just found DL more magical. Last Thursday afternoon in the lobby of the GCH we ran into Ryno from the DIS who was there for the event they were going to have and we had our picture taken with him. What a great guy very friendly with a big smile and we told him we were from Rhode Island knowing he grew up in Carver, Massachusetts and he really perked up since we were fellow New Englanders.

4) Food- We thought the food was better at DL especially the quick service restaurants.

5) California Adventure- Gem of a park. I don't know what more I can say about it.

Cons:

NONE!!!

Then to top off our magical trip we were waiting to board our plane back to Boston Friday morning when a man walks toward us and my wife and I look at each other and say "is that" well yes it was. We flew back to Boston with none other than Captain Kirk, William Shatner, on our flight. He was wearing a mask but we think he was doing it more to be anonymous, but as he approached I said "Good morning Mr. Shatner" and he responded "Is it that obvious?"

What a great trip!

These lists have been done before, but I can't help myself.

Better in California DL:
Weather
Food
Less Walking
No buses need
DCA is my favorite park (personal choice)

Better in WDW:
Animal Kingdom Is Unique
EPCOT World Show Case of Countries
Disney Springs
More Hotel Choices
More Restaurants
Water Parks
Other Parks: Universal, Sea World, NASA, etc.
Cruise Access

Love both locations but DL/DCA is our favorite.

 

[Chili327]

Dating back to our string of trips 15+ years ago, our perception always was that DL had better quick service and WDW better table service restaurants. I think that's still true today. However, good luck finding QS dining outside of the parks. There's virtually nothing at Downtown Disney. Part of our trip was spent at Disneyland Hotel and the menu at Tangaroa Terrace is pretty rough, especially if you're dealing with picky eaters.

There is a few carts, one has a Pickle Corndog.!!

Or how about the pin traders that set up makeshift shops on the benches in Frontierland

Okay, these people are the literal worst. I don't understand why Disney lets them do this.

Yes, please can we kill that already, its ridiculous. People are always looking for a place to rest their feet.
I made the suggestion that a bunch pf AP holders should get together and get their first & take shifts sitting there. I'm not a pass holder anymore, but I volunteered for a shift. lol

These lists have been done before, but I can't help myself.

Better in California DL:
Weather
Food
Less Walking
No buses need
DCA is my favorite park (personal choice)

Better in WDW:
Animal Kingdom Is Unique
Disney Springs
More Hotel Choices
More Restaurants
Water Parks
Other Parks: Universal, Sea World, NASA, etc.
Cruise Access

Love both locations but DL/DCA is our favorite.

Good info!! (i'd add Epcot to the WDW list)

 

[DLgal]

There is a few carts, one has a Pickle Corndog.!!




Yes, please can we kill that already, its ridiculous. People are always looking for a place to rest their feet.
I made the suggestion that a bunch pf AP holders should get together and get their first & take shifts sitting there. I'm not a pass holder anymore, but I volunteered for a shift. lol



Good info!! (i'd add Epcot to the WDW list)

I also volunteer.

 

[MartyParty]

There is a few carts, one has a Pickle Corndog.!!




Yes, please can we kill that already, its ridiculous. People are always looking for a place to rest their feet.
I made the suggestion that a bunch pf AP holders should get together and get their first & take shifts sitting there. I'm not a pass holder anymore, but I volunteered for a shift. lol



Good info!! (i'd add Epcot to the WDW list)

Thanks. Added EPCOT.

 

[Lisa24jks]

Okay, these people are the literal worst. I don't understand why Disney lets them do this.

I was gonna say, even the passholders and locals hate them too!

I wish Disney would find an area that isn't used much and designate it for pin trading (but I do get that a pin store is right across from that spot, so they want people going over there to buy pins too).